Srinagar: A woman bystander was killed when security forces opened fire today to quell a mob of protesters at Sopore in the Valley where curfew was reimposed in major towns including Srinagar as three more youths succumbed to injuries with the overall death toll in the current wave of violence in the state climbing to 103.
A mob started hurling stones at security personnel in the apple town of Sopore, 55 kms from here late this evening, official sources said. The security forces first used batons and teargas shells to disperse the mob but when it did not budge they fired warning shots.
A 25-year-old woman, identified as Mobina, who was standing on the first floor balcony of her house, was hit by a stray bullet. She was rushed to a hospital in critical condition where she was declared dead on arrival, they said.
The day had passed off peacefully across the valley till the Sopore incident took place. Elsewhere, curfew was reimposed today in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir Valley, where the death toll in the ongoing unrest has now risen to 103 with three more
persons including a youth leader of opposition People`s Democratic patrty (PDP) succumbing to injuries.
Bilal Ahmad Najar, the Anantnag district youth president of PDP, died at SMHS hospital here in the wee hours, officials said. Najar was injured in the security forces firing yesterday as he was allegedly leading a mob that attacked the residence of a Samajwadi party leader Fayaz Ahmad Bhat at Khanabal during the funeral procession of a youth who had drowned last week.
Two other youth, Mohammad Amin Ganai of Tappar-Pattan in Baramulla and Shabir Ahmad Dar of Lider Mund village in Pulwama, also succumbed to their injuries at KIMS hospital Soura, the officials said.
While Ganai was injured on September 17, Dar was hit by a bullet in alleged security forces firing on September 13. All the three deceased have been laid to rest in their
respective villages, the spokesman said. Curfew was reimposed in Srinagar and all major towns of the Valley notwithstanding the separatists` decision to exempt the day from protests and strikes.
Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been issuing weekly agitation calenders, had exempted the day from protests and strikes, and asked people to carry out their normal activities.
Besides Srinagar city, curfew remained in force within the jurisdiction of police station Budgam, Chadoora, and Charar-i-Sharief in Budgam district, Ganderbal district town
and adjoining Kangan. Anantnag district town along with Bijbehara and Pahalgam towns, Kulgam district town along with Qoimoh, Pulwama district town along with Kakapora and Litter, Awantipora,
Lethpora and Pampore, Shopian district town in South Kashmir also remained under strict curfew, the spokesman said. He said curfew is also in force in Baramulla district
town along with Kunzer, Tangmarg, Pattan, Delina, Tapper, Sopore town, Kupwara district town alongwith Kralpora, Trehgam, Handwara, Chotipora and Kulangam and Bandipora district town alongwith Sumbal town in North Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the spokesman said security forces complying with the orders of the respective District Magistrates of the Valley have imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPC to bring the situation under control, minimize causalities and to take care of essential commodities.
Police have given instructions to all Station House Officers to ensure that the essential medicines and commodities are made available to people in curfew-bound areas, the spokesman added.
Kashmir Valley has been in the grip of violent protests since June 11, when 17-year-old boy Tufail Ahmad Mattoo died after being injured in tear smoke shelling by police at
Rajouri Kadal in the city.
PTI
